From one of the truly preeminent historians of our time, this is a landmark book chronicling the French Revolution. Simon Schama deftly refutes the contemporary notion that the French Revolution represented an uprising of the oppressed poor against a decadent aristocracy and corrupt court. He argues instead that the revolution was born of a rift among the elite over the speed of progress toward modernity and science, social and economic change.

1 out of 5 stars

Awesome magisterial book, defective audio

By
Hmmm....
on
09-24-15

The Man in the Red Coat

By:
Julian Barnes

Narrated by:
Saul Reichlin

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3.5 out of 5 stars
25

Performance

3 out of 5 stars
23

Story

3.5 out of 5 stars
21

In the summer of 1885, three Frenchmen arrived in London for a few days' intellectual shopping: a prince, a count, and a commoner with an Italian name. In time, each of these men would achieve a certain level of renown, but who were they then and what was the significance of their sojourn to England? Answering these questions, Julian Barnes unfurls the stories of their lives which play out against the backdrop of the Belle Epoque in Paris. Our guide through this world is Samuel Pozzi, the society doctor, free-thinker, and man of science with a famously complicated private life....

1 out of 5 stars

Pathetic narration makes this title unbearable

By
Chris Quigg
on
02-27-20

The Odyssey

By:
Homer,
Emily Wilson - translator

Narrated by:
Claire Danes

Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,942

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,773

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,764

Acclaimed actress Claire Danes burnishes an epic story of heroes, gods, and monsters in a groundbreaking translation of The Odyssey, the first great adventure story in the Western literary tradition. When the wily warrior-king Odysseus sets off for home after the Trojan War, he doesn’t realize this simple undertaking will become a perilous journey of 10 years. Beset at every turn, he encounters obstacles, detours, and temptations—both supernatural and human—while his wife Penelope fends off would-be suitors desperate to take the throne.

4 out of 5 stars

Much better than I originally thought

By
Tad Davis
on
01-28-19

Remembering Roth

By:
James Atlas

Narrated by:
James Atlas

Length: 1 hr and 21 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3.5 out of 5 stars
1,163

Performance

3.5 out of 5 stars
1,018

Story

3.5 out of 5 stars
1,020

To most audiences, Philip Roth is a literary icon, author of probing, provocative works like American Pastoral, Portnoy’s Complaint, and Goodbye, Columbus. But to James Atlas, Philip Roth was more than just a writer—he was a friend. In 1977, when he was 28, James Atlas published his first book, a biography of the poet Delmore Schwartz, and was stunned to receive a congratulatory letter from Philip Roth. He had been moved by the tragic story it told.

5 out of 5 stars

made me think as much as many long books.

By
K D
on
03-10-19

The Plague

By:
Albert Camus

Narrated by:
James Jenner

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
1,123

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
912

Story

4 out of 5 stars
920

In the small coastal city of Oran, Algeria, rats begin rising up from the filth, only to die as bloody heaps in the streets. Shortly after, an outbreak of the bubonic plague erupts and envelops the human population. Albert Camus'
The Plague is a brilliant and haunting rendering of human perseverance and futility in the face of a relentless terror born of nature.

4 out of 5 stars

Translator Please!

By
Plain English
on
06-04-11

A History of Britain: Volume 1

By:
Simon Schama

Narrated by:
Stephen Thorne

Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
353

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
318

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
320

The story of Britain from the earliest settlements in 3000BC to the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. To look back at the past is to understand the present. In this vivid account of over 4,000 years of British history, Simon Schama takes us on an epic journey which encompasses the very beginnings of the nation's identity, when the first settlers landed on Orkney. From the successes and failures of the monarchy to the daily life of a Roman soldier stationed on Hadrian's Wall, Schama gives a vivid, fascinating account of the many different stories and struggles that lie behind the growth of our island nation.

4 out of 5 stars

Very Entertaining History of Britain

By
Douglas
on
02-17-14

Citizens

A Chronicle of the French Revolution

By:
Simon Schama

Narrated by:
Frederick Davidson

Length: 36 hrs and 48 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
264

Performance

4 out of 5 stars
242

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
239

From one of the truly preeminent historians of our time, this is a landmark book chronicling the French Revolution. Simon Schama deftly refutes the contemporary notion that the French Revolution represented an uprising of the oppressed poor against a decadent aristocracy and corrupt court. He argues instead that the revolution was born of a rift among the elite over the speed of progress toward modernity and science, social and economic change.

1 out of 5 stars

Awesome magisterial book, defective audio

By
Hmmm....
on
09-24-15

The Man in the Red Coat

By:
Julian Barnes

Narrated by:
Saul Reichlin

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3.5 out of 5 stars
25

Performance

3 out of 5 stars
23

Story

3.5 out of 5 stars
21

In the summer of 1885, three Frenchmen arrived in London for a few days' intellectual shopping: a prince, a count, and a commoner with an Italian name. In time, each of these men would achieve a certain level of renown, but who were they then and what was the significance of their sojourn to England? Answering these questions, Julian Barnes unfurls the stories of their lives which play out against the backdrop of the Belle Epoque in Paris. Our guide through this world is Samuel Pozzi, the society doctor, free-thinker, and man of science with a famously complicated private life....

1 out of 5 stars

Pathetic narration makes this title unbearable

By
Chris Quigg
on
02-27-20

The Odyssey

By:
Homer,
Emily Wilson - translator

Narrated by:
Claire Danes

Length: 13 hrs and 32 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,942

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,773

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,764

Acclaimed actress Claire Danes burnishes an epic story of heroes, gods, and monsters in a groundbreaking translation of The Odyssey, the first great adventure story in the Western literary tradition. When the wily warrior-king Odysseus sets off for home after the Trojan War, he doesn’t realize this simple undertaking will become a perilous journey of 10 years. Beset at every turn, he encounters obstacles, detours, and temptations—both supernatural and human—while his wife Penelope fends off would-be suitors desperate to take the throne.

4 out of 5 stars

Much better than I originally thought

By
Tad Davis
on
01-28-19

Remembering Roth

By:
James Atlas

Narrated by:
James Atlas

Length: 1 hr and 21 mins

Unabridged

Overall

3.5 out of 5 stars
1,163

Performance

3.5 out of 5 stars
1,018

Story

3.5 out of 5 stars
1,020

To most audiences, Philip Roth is a literary icon, author of probing, provocative works like American Pastoral, Portnoy’s Complaint, and Goodbye, Columbus. But to James Atlas, Philip Roth was more than just a writer—he was a friend. In 1977, when he was 28, James Atlas published his first book, a biography of the poet Delmore Schwartz, and was stunned to receive a congratulatory letter from Philip Roth. He had been moved by the tragic story it told.

5 out of 5 stars

made me think as much as many long books.

By
K D
on
03-10-19

The Plague

By:
Albert Camus

Narrated by:
James Jenner

Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4 out of 5 stars
1,123

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
912

Story

4 out of 5 stars
920

In the small coastal city of Oran, Algeria, rats begin rising up from the filth, only to die as bloody heaps in the streets. Shortly after, an outbreak of the bubonic plague erupts and envelops the human population. Albert Camus'
The Plague is a brilliant and haunting rendering of human perseverance and futility in the face of a relentless terror born of nature.

4 out of 5 stars

Translator Please!

By
Plain English
on
06-04-11

A History of Britain: Volume 1

By:
Simon Schama

Narrated by:
Stephen Thorne

Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins

Unabridged

Overall

4.5 out of 5 stars
353

Performance

4.5 out of 5 stars
318

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
320

The story of Britain from the earliest settlements in 3000BC to the death of Elizabeth I in 1603. To look back at the past is to understand the present. In this vivid account of over 4,000 years of British history, Simon Schama takes us on an epic journey which encompasses the very beginnings of the nation's identity, when the first settlers landed on Orkney. From the successes and failures of the monarchy to the daily life of a Roman soldier stationed on Hadrian's Wall, Schama gives a vivid, fascinating account of the many different stories and struggles that lie behind the growth of our island nation.

4 out of 5 stars

Very Entertaining History of Britain

By
Douglas
on
02-17-14

Publisher's Summary

In the first interview in the new monthly audio interview series presented by The Telegraph, Matthew Stadlen talks to British historian Simon Schama about his heritage, religious beliefs and views on Israeli policy. Schama also reflects on his childhood, his desires to become a historian and storyteller, and the importance of visual art in his field.

Simon Michael Schama, CBE (born 13 February 1945) is a British historian specialising in art history and French history. A professor at Columbia University, New York, he has published a number of books on a variety of historical topics and is perhaps best known in the United Kingdom for writing and hosting the BBC documentary series A History of Britain and The Story of the Jews.

Matthew Stadlen is a regular Telegraph contributor. The broadcaster produced and presented the BBC’s "5 Minutes With" and the documentary series On The Road With. He has interviewed people from all walks of life, so make sure you keep an eye out for the next interview in The Telegraph’s captivating 30 Minutes With download series.